Monday, September 28, 2009

I can't help but wonder that if our government hasn't gotten it right so far, how it is gonna get it right with the new proposed health bill. For those with short memory issues, here is a 2007 article on the health care the U.S. has been providing to our Veterans.

So mean time, we all get to enjoy the thousands of cigarettes casually thrown out the window of a car while someone is waiting for this stoplight to change. And while they are at it, a few drink bottles to keep them company.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

"Hoverin' by my suitcase, tryin' to find a warm place to spend the nightHeavy rain fallin', seems I hear your voice callin' "It's all right."A rainy night in Georgia, a rainy night in GeorgiaIt seems like it's rainin' all over the worldI feel like it's rainin' all over the world" - Tony Joe White, 1962

It has rained for three days now and tonight's news and weather guessers claim it is going to rain until Monday. It is the kind of weather that makes you shiftless, lazy, and wanting to nap. I tend to get cabin fever after a while and can't be boxed in. So, when the wife decided she wanted an ice cream from McDonalds, I did not put up a fight.

The McDonald's at GA 400 and GA 306 has for years been operated by someone who has an affinity for older motorcycles. I remember the first time I walked in it there was an Indian Scout, and Indian Chief, a 1950s Harley, and a 1990 Harley Softail.

Last year they embarked on a great remodelling job on the McDonalds and the bike collection was notably absent ever since. Even after the remodel was complete and the new McCafe' coffee bar was up and running, the McDonalds was sans V-Twins.

So tonight, I was quite pleasantly surprised to walk in and see an older Harley Electra-glide and an Indian sitting in the window. I'll let the art speak for itself.

Neither of these two bikes were from the previous display. So, I'd say someone has a nice collection of vintage motorcycles somewhere :)

All it well in the world once again, despite the onslaught of socialism.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Saturday a friend and I trekked our way south to Hampton, GA, home of "Atlanta Motor Speedway", so named despite the lack of proximity. Saturday afternoon was filled with practice sessions and cars flying in and out of the garage area while whistles blew to warn the less observant of oncoming race cars.

As I set with my back to the garage and took this all in, I chuckled to see Mike Helton, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director signing autographs.

A couple drivers elected to utilize the high line around Atlanta Motor Speedway and found themselves a little to close to the SAFER Barrier walls and their cars showed the scars for it.

Qualifying then followed for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who has had a miserable season with no wins qualified on the pole for the "B Series" race. When his crew informed him he had set the pole, his response was "(expletive deleted), Really?" Yes, Junior, really. And, we were as surprised as you were.

Qualifying then followed for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race which would run Sunday. Martin Truex, Jr. set the pole for that event.

Activities on the track ceased while the sun began to set and $7 hamburgers and $4 Cokes were sold.

SheDaisy sang the national anthem, three F-18's performed a flyover, and then it was time to get the party started. After a break for TV commercials, driver's fired their engines and took to the track. I reclined against the wrought iron fence surrounding winner's circle and began listening to team chatter on their radios as a handsome pair of Chevrolet Corvettes led the field for pace laps.

Once underway, the sun set and the temperatures were quite pleasant. I regretted wearing a long sleeve dark colored shirt expecting cooler temperatures after sweating for most of the day. My cohort beat the heat by steady trips out of the pit area to get a cold beer and then the subsequent trips to the dayglo green porto-lets.

As the race wore on, it became obvious we were well positioned for seating as we were in eye shot of the pit area of Kevin Harvick's No. 33 Jimmy John's Chevrolet. So while Harvick battled with the less popular Kyle Busch, we enjoyed watching the team's pit work and listening to their strategy.

(sorry for the blur, things were a bit hectic).

Harvick won the event, so we stood up, turned around, and took in all of the festivities that are Victory Lane, Winner's Circle, etc.

Sunday, my compatriot was unable to attend, but my wife and I set course for parts south and eventually arrived at the raceway.

When we arrived, pit road was jammed with tour groups who had pre-race passes, so we set down with our backs to Victory Lane and watched people and listened to the conversations of the autograph hounds. While performing this task, I met Sirius Satellite NASCAR host Claire B. Lang who was quite delightful.

Once pre-race fluff died down and the pits were clear of the pre-race pass toting autograph hounds, the race got underway. I think everyone was surprised to see Truex stay out front for a considerable amount of time before finally fading struggling to find traction with the tires Goodyear supplied.

Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Kasey Kahne all took turns leading the event, but Kahne won the battle on the final restart with 12 laps to go and went hope with the big trophy and the big check.

With my notepad full of notes, and my feet beginning to ache, we proceeded to make our way out thru back roads until finally reaching the interstate and heading back to the civilization of points north. As we maneuvered the mix of two lane roads, we watched the various driver's and team's personal jets taking off from the race track airport and begin their way back to North Carolina.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Last year our company hired a new consultant to add to our staff. When I am in the office, we are all sitting pretty closely together and can hear each others conversations quite plainly. The bosses designed it that way so others can assist when someone is working on a problem on the phone with a client.

The new guy was working on an issue with a client on the phone, and the rest of us were not paying much attention to him as we were all intent on issues of our own. As he concluded the call, he said "Have a Successful Day."

I stopped what I was doing and looked up. I then looked at my co-worker next to me and said, "what did Tony just say?" And about the same time, 7 other consultants all looked up and said, "Did he just say - have a successful day?" And the office errupted in laughter.

We knew that this guy's gift of small talk, or as he calls it, "life between reboots", that pregnant time while waiting for a computer to start back up, was going to be a point of humor for the office.

He has not let us down. With phrases like, "Is your unit on the floor?" and "I've lost my action", Tony has kept us all amused.